PARTS:
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
? ? ? ? In brief, Billy Budd was formally convicted and sentenced to be hung at the yard-arm in the early morning watch, it being now night. Otherwise, as is customary in such cases, the sentence would forthwith have been carried out. In war-time on the field or in the fleet, a mortal punishment decreed by a drum-head court- on the field sometimes decreed by but a nod from the General- follows without delay on the heel of conviction without appeal.
? ? ? ? It was Captain Vere himself who of his own motion communicated the finding of the court to the prisoner; for that purpose going to the compartment where he was in custody and bidding the marine there to withdraw for the time.
? ? ? ? Beyond the communication of the sentence what took place at this interview was never known. But in view of the character of the twain briefly closeted in that state-room, each radically sharing in the rarer qualities of our nature- so rare indeed as to be all but incredible to average minds however much cultivated- some conjectures may be ventured.
? ? ? ? It would have been in consonance with the spirit of Captain Vere should he on this occasion have concealed nothing from the condemned one- should he indeed have frankly disclosed to him the part he himself had played in bringing about the decision, at the same time revealing his actuating motives.
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